Let’s be honest, there are days when walking around Target® with a cup of coffee and your husband sans kids sounds like heaven, and dinner and a movie sound like a luxury date night. But after twenty-plus years of marriage, it’s time to add a little creativity back into the mix.
20 Date Night Ideas for 20+ Years Together
- Pizza and arcade games. It’s not romantic, but it’s a throwback to being in high school in the 80s. Nothing says I love you more than a slice of pizza and unlimited quarters for Ms. Pac-Man, or in his case, Galaga.
- Take a dance class. Why do we save this one for our kids’ weddings? It’s so much fun!
- Make a list of new restaurants in your city that you’d like to try. Put the names in a jar and draw out a different place to go to dinner!
- Work on a project together. This could be a renovation at home, building a piece of furniture, or cleaning out a closet. Then, reward yourself with a nice dinner out!
- Go on a prayer walk together. Pray out loud for the things that are troubling you—your kids, your finances or even a big looming decision.
- Go to see a favorite comedian together. Laughter is so good for you!
- Pick a new recipe that sounds good to both of you and cook together. Check out our recipes for a delicious date night at home.
- Double date with a younger couple and do something active. Go out to dinner for good conversation and follow it with bowling or Top Golf for fun!
- Breakfast and a farmers’ market. A good morning date is a great way to mix it up.
- Create recurring dates with the seasons that are special. For example, every Christmas, choose a Christmas concert and a nice restaurant. In the spring, pack a picnic and go to an outdoor concert. My husband and I love music, so anything that includes music is always a win.
- Watch an episode of each of your favorite TV shows when you were in high school and order dinner in!
- Create a vision board together for the rest of the year. Where do you want to go? What do you want to do?
- Ride bikes to your local downtown and have dinner at a restaurant everyone talks about.
- Rent a couple of electric scooters and ride them around your neighborhood and beyond. This is the MOST fun, and you’ll experience your neighborhood in a whole new way!
- Go boating. I live in Orlando, and we have a beautiful lake downtown with pedal-powered swan boats. If you have a local lake, check to see if they have any kind of rentable boats to spend a few hours together.
- Train for a physical challenge together. It could be a 5K or a marathon. Setting a goal to accomplish together and cheering each other on to accomplish it creates a great bonding experience.
- Surprise your husband and go out for dessert after dinner with the family at home.
- Plan a 90s-themed date night. Dress in 90s outfits, go to a great 90s restaurant like Olive Garden or Chili’s, listen to 90s music in the car, and watch a movie from the 90s after dinner.
- Pack a classic picnic and then go to a local library and check out a couple of books. Spend the afternoon outside on a blanket near water and enjoy your picnic and reading!
- Walk down memory lane. Have each of you find a photo of three favorite memories during your marriage and share them with each other and why they are so special.
Date night should be more than just occupying the same space. It should strengthen your emotional connection and create a space for fun, laughter, and romance. After twenty-eight years of marriage, I’m excited to give a few of these ideas a try. Forward this post to your husband and see what happens!
About Angie Elkins
Angie grew up in a Christian family in the Memphis, Tennessee, area. Early in life, she developed a love for music and the local church. After graduating from Union University, she attended Southwestern Seminary to pursue a Masters in Music. While at Southwestern, she met her husband Robert. They married in 1996 and have three children: Jack, Audrey, and Foster. In the last twenty-five years, Angie has been leading worship all over the country and writing music for the local church.
In 2017, she started her podcast, and in 2023 she launched Let It Shine, a podcast about sanctification over self-help. Angie is the manager of the Lifeway Podcast Network, where she works with amazing shows like MARKED and The Glass House with Ben and Lynley Mandrell. Angie’s favorite things are taking morning walks in her neighborhood, Walt Disney World, and trips with her girlfriends. Angie lives in Orlando, Florida, where her husband serves as the worship pastor of First Baptist Church of Orlando. You can connect with Angie on Instagram @angiebrownelkins.
